DINO Lamb could have been doing a Louis Lynagh and running in tries for Harlequins instead of putting in a shift in the second row.
The lock marked his 50th appearance for the club with a try against Worcester, in a 35-29 win at The Stoop, but could have been out wide if the club's plans had panned out.
Lamb, 23, was signed by Quins as a winger, before moving to midfield, then eventually heading into the pack.
And the youngster says playing in the backs has helped him fit into Quins all-singing, all-dancing style of play that helped them stun the Premiership by winning the title last season.
Lamb said: “It has always suited me. Originally I started as a wing and moved into centre so you will probably find me sometimes out on the wing offering myself because that is the game I like to play and it suits the Quins style. It is very exciting to be part of.
“I joined the Quins academy at 14 as a wing and they moved me to centre because I had a bit more height and that continued. I was like a string bean at 16 and 17 and they thought I had the frame for being a back row, second row. I am now 6ft 6in and 124kg (19st 7lb) so I wouldn't say I'm one of the small ones, I'm there with the big boys.”
Lamb, a former England U20 lock, signed a new deal with the club in February just as the revival was stirring. They had just battered Wasps 49-17 away from home, shortly after the departure of Paul Gustard as head of rugby, and started their run to the play-offs.
Lamb added: “There was definitely a switch around after that Wasps game. We talk about the Quins family in terms of how close knit this group is.Tabai Matson has come in and built on that, it is building momentum and the boys are all getting on well.
“I was signed under Conor O'Shea and you could see the DNA was about getting the young lads. Look at the team in the final just gone – there are a lot of young players coming through and that is the Quins heartbeat.”
By ADAM HATHAWAY
